Common Sense Media: Hilarious History Movies

'The Adventures of Baron Munchausen' (1989)

Ages: 11+

Why We Love It: Visual treat is too bawdy for young fantasy fans.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that this movie, based on an 18th-century book of tall tales and directed by "Monty Python" alum Terry Gilliam, should have been PG-13. Though it's steeped heavily in fantasy, there are still graphic scenes of battle with many explosions, sporadic be-headings and near executions, scenes of a harem with some shots of naked women, and a creepy Angel of Death. —Common Sense Media (Photo: Sony Pictures) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Hilarious Histor...If your kids need a break from their history lessons, popping one of these fun "history" flicks into the DVD player might be just the thing. Whether they're poking fun at historical figures or playing with the space-time continuum, these are all great movies for watching as a family. —Common Sense Media (Photo: iStock) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

Why We Love It: Fun, fast-paced sequel is more upbeat than the original.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that this follow up to the smash hit "Night at the Museum" is very similar in content to the original movie — so if your kids liked that one, they'll get a kick out of this one, too. Expect lots of generally lighthearted, effects-heavy chaos and action, with slapstick chases and confrontations and some moments of peril and danger (including scenes in which a somewhat scary giant octopus wreaks havoc and others involving creepy soldiers from the Egyptian underworld). Main characters get into fights and are threatened with weapons (guns, spears, swords) and words, but no one is seriously injured. One thing that's "missing" is the uneven father-son relationship from the first movie — this one skips the family angst in favor of a more romantic subplot that helps keep things more upbeat overall. There's a little language and some kissing, but no drinking or smoking. —Common Sense Media (Photo: 20th Century Fox) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that this family time-travel favorite includes sequences that place the hero and his friends in physical jeopardy: a gunfight in which a sympathetic character is thought to be killed, a van chasing a teen on a skateboard, several episodes of bullying, and more. The violence is exaggerated and closer in tone to cartoon jeopardy than real danger, but some kids will no doubt find it tense. Several scenes show the hero's discomfort when the girl who will eventually be his mother tries to entice him with kisses and embraces; there's also implied unwanted sex, but nothing serious happens. Strong language includes a couple of racial slurs in the 1950s-set scenes. It's worth noting that this is the movie that alerted the public to the concept of product placement, with controversy arising from the near-constant visuals of Pepsi products and other brands. —Common Sense Media (Photo: Universal Pictures) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that kids will see a good deal of cartoonish violence (a man's arm is ripped off during an arm wrestling match, a hungry dwarf captures a rat and eats it, severed feet hang from the ceiling of an ogre's ship, etc.). Two characters are blown up at the end, but they aren't depicted as very nice people. Also there are scary creatures, and depictions of a supreme being and his nemesis that some will find objectionable. The bandits are pursued by the Supreme Being, i.e., God, who seems to have created the world in a slapdash manner. They also encounter the Evil Genius, or Devil. Throughout, the movie advocates reading and an appreciation for both the factual and mythological aspects of human history. Its dwarf protagonists also address themes of tolerance. —Common Sense Media (Photo: Paramount) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that Bill and Ted are slackers, have no respect for authority, and actively disobey their parents. But the tone is still very lighthearted and the characters seem to have the best intentions during their adventures through time. There is some comic violence and, appropriately, the Dark Ages is where the duo encounters the most life-threatening — but still comic — situations. Girls are treated as sex objects to the point that Rufus gives the boys two girls they met in Medieval England as a reward for passing their history test. —Common Sense Media (Photo: Orion Pictures Corporation) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that this movie, based on an 18th-century book of tall tales and directed by "Monty Python" alum Terry Gilliam, should have been PG-13. Though it's steeped heavily in fantasy, there are still graphic scenes of battle with many explosions, sporadic be-headings and near executions, scenes of a harem with some shots of naked women, and a creepy Angel of Death. —Common Sense Media (Photo: Sony Pictures) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

What Parents Should Know: Parents need to know that Monty Python's comedy was rated PG before the advent of PG-13. The entire vestal virgin sequence is filled with sexual innuendo and proposition — but that's the iffiest content. Some of the rapid-fire jokes won't be detected or even understood by the youngest teens, and it's possible teens unfamiliar with this style of comedy won't get it at first. The violence is obviously fake — lots of gushing blood, killer rabbits, etc. God is depicted in an animated segment as being tired of overly contrite and "depressing" followers. —Common Sense Media (Photo: Almi Cinema 5) The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

All-American TV ...These classic shows could tell alien visitors a lot about America. From the hilarious family of "I Love Lucy" to the beer-guzzling antics of Homer Simpson — click here to see the cultural capsules that shed light on our society and can prompt some interesting discussions with kids.